Anyone getting an iPad?

[whodini]

It's been 2 weeks and I still love the iPad. I think I like it even more after traveling last week. Between 2 flights and a train ride i watched 2.5 of TV, a 1.5 hour movie and read 1/2 a book on the Kindle app and I still had more than 50% left on the battery. Just the movie alone would have eaten through most of my laptop.
Best apps so far are MLB 2010 and We Rule.

 

[Sphyrna]

I have been anxious to see HP's Slate and how it compares to the iPad. I liked the idea of something more full-featured like a PC but in tablet form. Looks like I don't have to be anxious anymore. Rumor is that HP has decided to kill the Slate. If true, I'm pretty shocked since it seems so late in the products development to give it the axe. With HP buying Palm, perhaps they decided to just wait until they can release a WebOS tablet? I would have thought they'd at least release the Slate and use WebOS for the Slate 2.

 

[gkrykewy]

Slate dead, courier dead... Just embrace your new ipad overlords

 

[Anna114]

Well we got our second Ipad today. When Apple says the end of April they mean just that lol. Received it just in tome to take it to the Pily on Wed. I'll be going online with it tomorrow when I set it up With AT&T.

 

[Sphyrna]

Looks like AT&T is restricting video on the 3G iPad, downsampling iTunes previews and the ABC player requires a WiFi connection. Linky linky.

 

[Willow1213]

Did anyone else order the camera connection kit? We ordered ours after we read the reviews about how well it worked. Well, with shipping and other misc time, it is slated to arrive - 1 DAY before we leave for Disneyland OMG, I hope that for once a shipment comes ontime.

This is my first time ordering something from the Apple store online, anyone else have a comparable experience? How accurate were their shipping estimates? I am hoping that they come into Apple retail stores before then and we can pick one up so I know I have it.

 

[MErnst]

Just got my camera connection kit 2 days ago and it worked just fine with my Sony digital camera. I tried to use it with my FlipVideo but it wasn't powerful enough...oh well. I normally get shipments from Apple a day or 2 before their estimated date. I've ordered from them numerous times and never an issue. I love my iPad!!

 

[gkrykewy]

Did anyone else order the camera connection kit? We ordered ours after we read the reviews about how well it worked. Well, with shipping and other misc time, it is slated to arrive - 1 DAY before we leave for Disneyland OMG, I hope that for once a shipment comes ontime.

This is my first time ordering something from the Apple store online, anyone else have a comparable experience? How accurate were their shipping estimates? I am hoping that they come into Apple retail stores before then and we can pick one up so I know I have it.

Yeah, I have my camera kit en route. The shipping estimates seem somewhat dicey since it's coming directly from China. Good luck to you!

 

[donalduck]

I am looking at buying an IPAD but I am not sure now which one to buy. I am not sure if I should spend the extra 130 for the 3g one or not. I am mostly at home so I would be using the wifi. But I was thinking it would be cool to use it on our trips when we go to wdw. But that would really be the only time I would use the 3g service and I am not really sure if 130 is worth it just for that. Can anyone help me please?

 

[whodini]

Has anyone tried out any of the 3rd party cases yet? Found one you love?
Most of the ones I've seen are just the type you slip in and out. I've got the Apple one, and while it's OK and gets the job done, I don't love it.

+ Thin
+ The feature that allows you to prop it up like a keyboard
- The outside gets dirty really easy and is difficult to clean
- Dust and pet hair always get trapped under the edges

 

[gkrykewy]

I am looking at buying an IPAD but I am not sure now which one to buy. I am not sure if I should spend the extra 130 for the 3g one or not. I am mostly at home so I would be using the wifi. But I was thinking it would be cool to use it on our trips when we go to wdw. But that would really be the only time I would use the 3g service and I am not really sure if 130 is worth it just for that. Can anyone help me please?

Well, you've laid out the options and tradeoffs nicely. Personally I went with the wifi, although I did spend the extra hundred for the 32gb model.

It was an easier choice for me, because I'm able to share my 3G service from my android phone with the iPad, so I do have Internet anywhere (the phone acts as a wifi hotspot).

That said, I chose the wifi model even before I enabled that functionality in my phone, because I'm sure I'll be within wifi range more often than not.

Has anyone tried out any of the 3rd party cases yet? Found one you love?
Most of the ones I've seen are just the type you slip in and out. I've got the Apple one, and while it's OK and gets the job done, I don't love it.

+ Thin
+ The feature that allows you to prop it up like a keyboard
- The outside gets dirty really easy and is difficult to clean
- Dust and pet hair always get trapped under the edges

Personally I'm using a slip case from water field - sfbags.com. It's great. If you're looking for an always-on case, however, vie heard great things about the macally bookstand case:

http://www.macally.com/en/product/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=320

 

[mrcricket]

I am looking at buying an IPAD but I am not sure now which one to buy. I am not sure if I should spend the extra 130 for the 3g one or not. I am mostly at home so I would be using the wifi. But I was thinking it would be cool to use it on our trips when we go to wdw. But that would really be the only time I would use the 3g service and I am not really sure if 130 is worth it just for that. Can anyone help me please?

I went with the wifi model and my uses sound very similar to yours. I have no regrets. I just couldn't justify the additional $130 for 3G since I have an iPhone. I'm covered both ways. Plus I don't view the iPad the same way as the iPhone. The iPad is a sit-down media consumption device(I should be sitting down to use it), whereas the iPhone is a phone and mobile connection device used on-the-go. That's how I see them.

 

[richmo]

Had a chance to play with an iPad at Best Buy last week. It's pretty impressive, but I'm not jumping in yet.

Things I like:
- Rendering of web pages is excellent.
- The virtual keyboard is quite good. Not as good as a real, fullsize keyboard, but good.
- Wi-fi speed loading of webpages is acceptable. Not as fast as my laptop at home, but the Wi-fi router at Best Buy could be the culprit here.

Things I don't like:
- It does seem like an overgrown iPod Touch. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I'd almost like to see an iPad mini, where the size would be somewhere between the Touch and the iPad. The iPad is almost too big.
- For its current price, I'd just assume get a basic laptop or a souped up netbook. Although the laptop/netbook would be heavier, I get a full keyboard and some connectivity.
- Lack of Flash. I have a lot of respect for what Steve Jobs says, but iPad and its OS is more closed to developers than other devices. Whether you agree with him or not, the fact is, at least for now, there are a lot of websites out there that require Flash to display the site. Two of the three sites I tried out at the store didn't fully load because Flash wasn't present.
- There's the multi-tasking issue, but that should go away with the next OS release.
- Price still seems a bit high for me, but what I'm hoping is that the presence of the iPad will lower the price structure for the iPod Touch, so I may pick up one of those. I don't need a 3G device; it seems I'm paying enough for connectivity with everything else anyway.

Finally, I'm hoping to see some competition out there. I'm hearing that the HP Slate may not happen, but I'm hoping that something Android based will come along that would compete. If that happens, it'll have to be good though; Apple does have a quality device here.

 

[donalduck]

I went with the wifi model and my uses sound very similar to yours. I have no regrets. I just couldn't justify the additional $130 for 3G since I have an iPhone. I'm covered both ways. Plus I don't view the iPad the same way as the iPhone. The iPad is a sit-down media consumption device(I should be sitting down to use it), whereas the iPhone is a phone and mobile connection device used on-the-go. That's how I see them.

I don't have an I phone or anything else to get onto the internet when I am away from home. That is why I am not sure which one to buy. I am thinking about just the wifi one because I am not away from home that much. I just can't see spending an extra 130 for the I PAD and then you have to buy the service also.

 

[CR88]

Personally, I think it's hard to justify the price for a machine that cannot run Flash or multitask. Didn't Apple practically invent or at least revolutionize multitasking? As a HUGE Mac fan and long time user of their products, I have to say that I was disappointed. I wanted to love it and expected to love it, but it seems to leave a lot to be desired. Most importantly for me is the multitasking, but no front face camera for video conferencing, no USB input to plug my digital camera in and no media card inputs either??? It just seems to be a toy, a big Ipod Touch tied to an inferior wireless provider. I do see some merit in Job's recent comments about Flash but I do not totally buy his reasoning, I think it is more of a control/money thing. I was looking forward to getting this as a lightweight substitute for my Macbook Pro on business or leisure trips, but I just can't do it. I absolutely love Apple and their products, but I have to admit that as much as I hate to say it, I was not impressed. I really do think Apple intentionally leaves out things because they know their 1st generation product will sell just because it's Apple's newest shiny toy, and they'll always have a market for future generation versions. All that being said, I will be the first in line to get one as soon as many of these issues have been addressed, most importantly the multitasking one.

 

[donalduck]

I agree with you. I have a I podtouch and it's the same thing. I was looking to buy a
I PAD for my wife for her birthday. She really likes it. I wouldn't want one because I had an I pod touch.

 

[mrcricket]

I agree with you. I have a I podtouch and it's the same thing. I was looking to buy a
I PAD for my wife for her birthday. She really likes it. I wouldn't want one because I had an I pod touch.

I really don't think the iPad and IPod Touch are the same. Yes they share a similar interface, but the experience is much different. The iPad feels like a real computer to a certain extent. The amazingly sharp and vibrant screen is easily viewed and doesn't require much zooming on most web pages, which the iPod definitely does require. The speed of the iPad is much greater than the Touch. It loads web pages as fast as my MacBook Pro. And it just feels comfortable to read — again due to the size and quality of the screen. So to me, the iPad is a different creature even if it shares a similar pedigree, just like a lion is different than a house cat. Yea, both are cats, but one is big and powerful and can take down a gazelle. The other is sweet and cuddly and can lap up a bowl of milk.

 

[mrcricket]

Personally, I think it's hard to justify the price for a machine that cannot run Flash or multitask. Didn't Apple practically invent or at least revolutionize multitasking? As a HUGE Mac fan and long time user of their products, I have to say that I was disappointed. I wanted to love it and expected to love it, but it seems to leave a lot to be desired. Most importantly for me is the multitasking, but no front face camera for video conferencing, no USB input to plug my digital camera in and no media card inputs either??? It just seems to be a toy, a big Ipod Touch tied to an inferior wireless provider. I do see some merit in Job's recent comments about Flash but I do not totally buy his reasoning, I think it is more of a control/money thing. I was looking forward to getting this as a lightweight substitute for my Macbook Pro on business or leisure trips, but I just can't do it. I absolutely love Apple and their products, but I have to admit that as much as I hate to say it, I was not impressed. I really do think Apple intentionally leaves out things because they know their 1st generation product will sell just because it's Apple's newest shiny toy, and they'll always have a market for future generation versions. All that being said, I will be the first in line to get one as soon as many of these issues have been addressed, most importantly the multitasking one.

FYI, multitasking will be taken care of with the 4.0 operating system coming this fall. As for your other issues, most are very valid. I do wish there was a camera on the front. I do wish it ran Flash. But I have to say, after a month of using mine I love it despite these seeming shortcomings. I like it better than my laptop for consuming media. Surfing, email and reading are just a delight on these. And I can sit all evening with it on my lap and it doesn't get hot. Try that with a laptop. I give the iPad a big thumbs up. When they add the camera and some sort of flash support, I'll give it TWO thumbs up.

 

[itch1]

The wife really wants one for surfing and reading books I was thinking of getting her one but I can only afford the 500 dollar one should I wait ?
ITCH

 

[donalduck]

The wife really wants one for surfing and reading books I was thinking of getting her one but I can only afford the 500 dollar one should I wait ?
ITCH

The isn't going to go down. Look at the IPOD touch how long has that been out for. The one for 500 is 16gb that should be enough space. It's up to you though. If it was me I would just get the one for 500.